How to Reduce Noise From a Return Air Vent
- 1. Inspect the Grille Cover ...
- 2. Clean Out the Inside of the Duct ...
- 3. Clean or Replace the Filter ...
- 4. Install (Or Replace) A Duct Liner ...
- 5. Troubleshoot Ductwork Issues ...
- 6. Check the Static Pressure in the Duct System ...
- 7. Replace the Sheet Metal Duct With a Flex Duct ...
- 8. Get a Variable-Speed Blower ...
What is the best way to make air move?
What to do if your HVAC is too complicated?
What is Causing the Noise in Your Air Return?
Why does my HVAC make a noise?
How big is a return air vent?
How many cubic feet of air does an HVAC system return?
How to stop a vent from ringing?
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Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Can you quiet down cold air return - I just had my HVAC replaced with a new natural gas York 94% 2 stage upflow with 3 ton AC. My cold air return is just upstairs from the unit, and as it comes on the slow speed of the fan is very quiet, but as it speeds up the noise of the fan echos
loud air return...causes/fix it
We had one large air return in the stairwell of our home. When we had a new Trane system installed the company told us we needed to add another smaller 2nd air return to increase the efficiency of the unit. The discussion of placement was a problem and I finally let them place it in the wall of our...
How to reduce noise in a home?
Add a bypass duct. If you have multiple zones within a single system, it's sometimes possible to add a bypass duct that relieves pressure within the system and reduces noise. Add or expand grilles and registers. In our experience, most homes don't have enough return air.
What to check if air is moving through HVAC system?
If the air moving through your system makes a lot of noise, the first things to check on are: Closed vent dampers: One closed damper probably won't make much difference, but closing several dampers at once might make your system noisier. Closing supply vents actually puts undue stress on your HVAC equipment.
Why is my ductwork sagging?
Those sags and bends can make it harder for your system to move air, which can increase static pressure and create noise.
What to do after checking for closed vents?
After checking for closed vents and fixing kinked or sagging flex duct, your best move is to have an HVAC professional measure the static pressure in your system. If you're hearing a lot of noise, static pressure is probably high. After checking things out, the contractor will likely propose one or more of the solutions we just discussed.
What does static pressure mean in ductwork?
When static pressure is too high, it means your ducts can't adequately accommodate the volume of air that your equipment is trying to move through them. And when the volume of air exceeds what your ducts are intended to handle, you get noise.
Why is my air conditioner noisy?
It can also make the system noisier. The solution is to clean or replace your filter regularly and have your ducts cleaned if they start to impede airflow.
How to reduce static pressure in a home?
It's often possible to select a lower fan speed, which will reduce static pressure as well as air noise. This fix only works when the fan speed was too high in the first place. Reducing the speed when the system was properly set up could result in a lack of airflow throughout your home. Add ductwork.
What Causes Noise From The Return Air?
It is normal to hear sounds from a running HVAC system or AC unit. Though, if you feel like the sounds are increasing and have become bothersome. Any unusual noises can indicate some kind of potential issue in the system.
How To Quiet A Noisy Air Return?
By being familiar with the cause of noisy air return you can easily eradicate the issue. Now you have to learn how to reduce noise from return air.
FAQ Section
You can easily make the air return quitter. Initially track down the source of the noises coming from the system. Try the above-mentioned step to muffle the annoying noises. Open up the vents, clean the filter, check for leaky vents or ask for an expert’s advice.
Conclusion
A noisy air vent can be annoying, as they disturb your normal routine. Shushing it down is possible following the above-mentioned basic troubleshooting stages. The steps are quite simple and easy to perform.
How to make a return air duct sing?
Naturally, the first thing you’ll want to do is get close to the grille covering the return air duct. Examine it for dirt and vibrations. If the airflow is strong enough, it might make the individual louvers on the cover flutter, producing a singing sound. That just means that the angles they’re set at are resisting the airflow.
How to reduce noise from return air vent?
The best way to go about reducing the amount of noise your return air vent is making is to troubleshoot each section of the ductwork as you come across it. That means starting with the grille cover and working your way down the line toward the HVAC unit. With that in mind, let’s get into it.
What Makes Some Return Air Vents So Noisy?
Most of the potential causes of noise you’ll be dealing with will be the result of heightened pressure inside the return air ducts. After all, the system can only work properly if the fans that are pulling the air in are stronger than the resistance inside the ducts. That’s why any obstructions in the channels can significantly impair the functioning of the ventilation system.
Why does my HVAC make a loud noise?
Hearing loud sounds coming from the ductwork that connects to your home’s HVAC system is to be expected. Whether it’s coming from the supply duct or the return air channels, the noise is probably the result of normal fan operation. But if the low whirring noise becomes distorted and amplified, you shouldn’t just put up with it. Instead, you ought to learn how to reduce the return air noise yourself.
How loud is an HVAC system?
A fully functional and open ventilation system would produce a noise level of about 50 decibels or so. That’s a very low hum — and even that will only be audible to those who are sitting right next to the vent. But let’s say your HVAC system is working through restrictions such as:
How much noise does a flexible duct system reduce?
Transitioning to a flexible duct system will reduce return air noise by as much as 10 decibels. If you’re not familiar with that system of measuring sound, that means that the noise will be about half as loud as it was. After all, each additional ten decibels represent a doubling of the noise level.
What is return air?
Namely, return air is the air that has already passed through the room and lost its thermic qualities. As the name suggests, the air is now in the ducts on its way back to the HVAC system for additional conditioning.
Question
The metal ductwork in the ceiling of our finished basement pops and bangs every time the furnace comes on in the winter, then makes more noise after the furnace shuts off. Is there anything we can do to stop the banging? —William Tucek, Seattle, Wash.
Answer
Metal ducts make all sorts of noises. In some cases, excessive air flow can cause whistling. Sometimes, pressure differences between the supply and return ducts can move their walls in and out, resulting in a rumbling sound called “oil-canning.” And ductwork can carry the sound of a noisy blower all over the house.
How to make a duct system quieter?
Add ductwork to expand the supply and return plenums. Increasing ductwork is effective in reducing the static pressure hence making the system quieter.
How to make your air conditioner less noisy?
1. Open the Vents. One closed vent may not make much of a difference, but if two or more of these closed, your system will get noisier. If the return air in your home is getting unbearable, opening the air vents should be your first step. Go a step further and check whether the grill or vent is adjustable.
How to reduce airflow in HVAC?
Adjust fan speed to a level that is comfortable for your HVAC system. This can only work if the speed was too high, otherwise reducing speed in an adequately set system will reduce airflow and overall performance.
Why does my air conditioner clog?
As air is sucked into the vents, dust and other particles may get trapped in the filters. These particles may cause clogging especially if the return vents are installed in dusty rooms. With clogged filters, your equipment will have a harder time moving air resulting in a noisier system.
What to do if you can't hear return air?
If the vents are open, but you still can’t hear yourself over the return air noise, you may need to check the filter/ducts.
Why does my house make a whistling noise?
Many homes have poorly installed or inefficient ductwork. In both instances, a lot of air is forced into a limited space leading to a whistling or whooshing sound.
What happens when you blow air with a variable speed blower?
With a variable-speed blower, the air in your home will be circulating more consistently, and there will be less air going through the ducts.
What is the best way to make air move?
Changing all the vents (incoming and return) to high velocity. This will provide the best air movement with the least noise.
What to do if your HVAC is too complicated?
This is, after all, a pretty complicated system involving air movement, fuel and flame, electricity, and many different components acting in concert to make your life more comfortable and safe. Changing a few vent covers and filters or wrapping ducts is one thing; contemplating anything more should have some professional input.
What is Causing the Noise in Your Air Return?
This is sound that travels through the HVAC system and maybe heard far from its source. It can be caused by the heat ducts, blower motor, loose vents, or Lego pieces moving around in a duct. On the other hand, if you have a noise in the air return, you could hear it coming from the outlets.
Why does my HVAC make a noise?
It can be caused by the heat ducts, blower motor, loose vents, or Lego pieces moving around in a duct. On the other hand, if you have a noise in the air return, you could hear it coming from the outlets.
How big is a return air vent?
Following is a picture of the return air vent in my office. Vent opening is 80 square inches, drywall opening is 26 square inches, floor opening is 23 square inches, incoming vent is 26 square inches. (To do it correctly, the contractor should have cut the right-hand stud shorter, installed a 2 x 4 cross-brace to support it, and made the floor and drywall openings bigger. The vent cover is more than big enough to provide sufficient air return from the room.) So remove the vent covers and check.
How many cubic feet of air does an HVAC system return?
Your HVAC system is based on the same idea. You cannot efficiently push 1200 cubic feet of air into the house while only returning 1000 cubic feet. The system overloads and complains–usually by making noise. First thing–do not believe your eyes.
How to stop a vent from ringing?
Bend the vanes (fins on the vent) straight to allow more airflow. This will cut down on air turbulence , reducing flutter (vibration of the fins) and the ringing or singing noise.
